Member of the public claims Mr Ramsay's debate contribution was 'slurred, incoherent and insolent' and he appeared 'unsteady' on his feet

The Assembly’s Presiding Officer will launch an investigation after a she received a complaint alleging that a Tory AM appeared “drunk” and made “slurred, incoherent and insolent” contributions to a debate on mental health in the Senedd.

A complainant, who says he is a constituent of Cardiff North AM Julie Morgan, said he felt he needed to make the complaint after attending an Assembly debate on mental health issues yesterday afternoon, in which he claimed Nick Ramsay – the AM for Monmouth – appeared to be “very clearly inebriated”.

The complaint letter was sent to Dame Rosemary Butler, along with Mrs Morgan and believed to have copied in Mr Ramsay himself.

The letter said: “On more than one occasion during the mental health debate his contributions were slurred, incoherent and insolent. As a passionate pro-devolutionist and a proud supporter of the Welsh Parliament I find this kind of contempt for the Welsh public extremely disrespectful.

“Ultimately, behaviour of this kind reflects badly not just on the reputation of the Assembly Member himself, but his party, your role as the speaker in the chamber, and – most significantly of all – betrays a lack of respect for the citizens he purports to represent.

“The Assembly Member for Monmouth is in a privileged position to serve his constituents, but to appear in the chamber unsteady on his feet and clearly drunk is unforgivable.

“Not only is it unacceptable to be drunk in performance of his public duties, it is a slap in the face for people like myself who have spent most of our adult lives campaigning for proper parliamentary representation for Welsh people.”

A spokesman for the Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler said: “The Presiding Officer has received a letter of complaint relating to the behaviour of an individual Assembly Member in the plenary session on June 10.

“Regulation of plenary proceedings is a matter for the Presiding Officers. They will be looking into the circumstances thoroughly and properly over the coming days.

“The rules of debate are governed by Standing Order 13 and the Assembly Members’ Code of Conduct sets out the standard of behaviour expected from Members during Assembly business.

“Members must at all times in their conduct promote respect for the Assembly and extend respect and courtesy to other Members.”

It is not the first time Mr Ramsay has been at the centre of controversy, after he was accused of being late to chair a committee because of alleged late-night drinking sessions, while in 2011 he apologised after he was barred from his local pub for alleged rude behaviour at a charity quiz.

But it is understood he maintains he was not drunk during the debate.

According to AMs’ code of conduct: “Assembly Members should at all times conduct themselves in a manner which will tend to maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of the assembly and refrain from any action which would bring the assembly, or its members generally, into disrepute.”

A spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives said: “Nick Ramsay was making valid contributions in an important debate on mental health.

“He agrees that all correspondence from the public should be treated with the utmost importance and will speak to the Presiding Officer accordingly.”

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